I don't know much about life in Middle East, but I have a rhetorical question. If to be given free choice, would the Palestinians who are currently living inside Israel rather to live under different government base on the existing neighboring Arab states? Or would they prefer to live under Israeli rule as they are now?

A few weeks ago I read Michael Lerner's new book "Embracing Israel/Palestine" and found it to be excellent. He shows a way how this lingering problem can be solved. Here's what Rep. Keith Ellison ( D-Minn.), the first elected Muslim to the U.S. Congress and chair of the seventy-member Progressive Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives has to say about it:

"Rabbi Michael Lerner provides us with a brilliant and hopeful vision of how to transform the Middle East from a cauldron of violence to a vanguard of peace. I hope every American will read this book and apply its lessons to change how we deal with the Middle East. For several decades Lerner has been a remarkably courageous rabbi, defying the orthodoxies of some in his own community to insist that Biblical teachings require recognizing the equal value to God of both Israelis and Palestinians. Challenging the extremists on all sides, Lerner insists on the practical and ethical necessity to embrace both Israel and Palestine with compassion and love. Lerner presents us with a path to peace that will require our replacing the strategy of domination and war with what Lerner appropriately describes as the far more effective path to homeland security: the strategy of generosity and genuine caring for the well-being of everyone involved. This is practical and effective advice for the world. I hope every American will read this book and apply its lessons in change how we deal with the Middle East."

Lerner insists on the practical and ethical necessity to embrace both Israel and Palestine with compassion and love. Lerner presents us with a path to peace that will require our replacing the strategy of domination and war with what Lerner appropriately describes as the far more effective path to homeland security: the strategy of generosity and genuine caring for the well-being of everyone involved.

I can find nowhere where Judaism ever refers to the term ijtihad... only in Islam...however it is a good thing, and good to know about, so I am sharing...

Islam's tradition of critical thinking, known as ijtihad
(pronounced ij-tee-had). I realize that this word sounds frighteningly
like "jihad" to many non-Arab ears. In fact it comes from the same
root--to struggle. But unlike any notion of violent struggle, ijtihad is all about struggling to reason. In the early centuries of Islam, thanks to the spirit of ijtihad, 135 schools of thought thrived.

Toward the end of the 11th century, the gates of ijtihad
closed for political reasons. The fragile Muslim empire--from Iraq in
the East to Spain in the West--was experiencing a series of internal
convulsions. Dissident denominations were popping up and declaring
their own runaway governments. So the main Muslim leader, known as the
caliph, cracked down politically. Within a few generations, Islam saw
the closing of something else--the gates of ijtihad. The 135
schools of thought were whittled down to only four, in which
conservative Sunni teachings reigned. This in turn produced a rigid
reading of the Quran as well as a series of legal opinions known as fatwas
that scholars could no longer overturn or even question, but only
imitate. With some glorious exceptions, that's what Muslim scholars
have been doing to this day--imitating each other's medieval
prejudices, without much introspection. In fact, after the gates of ijtihad
were closed, innovation was deemed a crime. Tolerance took a severe
beating as result. One of the enduring lessons of history is that
whenever an empire becomes insular to "protect" itself, intellectual
decline and cultural intolerance are sure to follow.

(citation: http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1052)

I encourage those on this forum to research the term 'ijtihad of Judaism'you will find enlightening, mind opening things.

I can find nowhere where Judaism ever refers to the term ijtihad... only in Islam...however it is a good thing, and good to know about, so I am sharing...

Islam's tradition of critical thinking, known as ijtihad
(pronounced ij-tee-had). I realize that this word sounds frighteningly
like "jihad" to many non-Arab ears. In fact it comes from the same
root--to struggle. But unlike any notion of violent struggle, ijtihad is all about struggling to reason. In the early centuries of Islam, thanks to the spirit of ijtihad, 135 schools of thought thrived.

Toward the end of the 11th century, the gates of ijtihad
closed for political reasons. The fragile Muslim empire--from Iraq in
the East to Spain in the West--was experiencing a series of internal
convulsions. Dissident denominations were popping up and declaring
their own runaway governments. So the main Muslim leader, known as the
caliph, cracked down politically. Within a few generations, Islam saw
the closing of something else--the gates of ijtihad. The 135
schools of thought were whittled down to only four, in which
conservative Sunni teachings reigned. This in turn produced a rigid
reading of the Quran as well as a series of legal opinions known as fatwas
that scholars could no longer overturn or even question, but only
imitate. With some glorious exceptions, that's what Muslim scholars
have been doing to this day--imitating each other's medieval
prejudices, without much introspection. In fact, after the gates of ijtihad
were closed, innovation was deemed a crime. Tolerance took a severe
beating as result. One of the enduring lessons of history is that
whenever an empire becomes insular to "protect" itself, intellectual
decline and cultural intolerance are sure to follow.

(citation: http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1052)

I encourage those on this forum to research the term 'ijtihad of Judaism'you will find enlightening, mind opening things.

Err I used that term because I don't know how to refer it. The Rabbi's stand is an Islamic stand (Love and Compassion) which is getting scarcer by the day. So for the Jews to have that stand they must use some kind reasoning power which I don't know it's name in other places. That is the reason for "Ijtihad of Judaism". I should look up what's come up in the search engine.

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot create polls in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum

Disclaimer:
The opinions expressed herein contain positions and viewpoints that are not necessarily those of IslamiCity. This forum is offered to stimulate dialogue and discussion in our continuing mission of being an educational organization.
If there is any issue with any of the postings please email to icforum at islamicity.com or if you are a forum's member you can use the report button.